Petition in High Court challenges Amravati MLC poll result, notice issued to Praveen Pote

The Legislative Council election from the Amravati local authorities constituency has reached the High Court. Viplav Gopikishan Bajoria has filed a petition in the court challenging the result.

After hearing the petition, Justice Nandesh Deshpande issued a summons (notice) to the elected legislator, Praveen Pote. Pote, the respondent, has to present his side before the court by November 27, 2026.

The result of the election was declared on June 22, 2026. Pote was declared the winner of the Legislative Council election from the local bodies constituency. Petitioner Bajoria has sought to have the election set aside under Section 100(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The main allegation in the petition is that the returning officer improperly rejected the petitioner's nomination paper. Advocate RS Sirpurkar, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that under Rule 4-A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, filling in and submitting Form 26 is mandatory, and that this had been adequately complied with.

He argued that complete details of the criminal background and the movable and immovable assets of the petitioner and his family had been submitted with the nomination paper through separate annexures.

The petitioner also said that the nomination paper was rejected on purely hyper-technical grounds, contrary to the instructions in the Election Commission's official handbook. According to the petitioner, the decision is not correct under the rules.

Taking these arguments on record, the High Court directed that a summons be issued to the respondent under Appendix 2 of the Bombay High Court's election petition rules. Attention will now be on Pote's reply, due by November 27, 2026.